Valve operating mechanism



Feb. 8, 1949. DAVIS 2,461,313

VALVE OPERATING MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 1, 1944 INVEN TOR.

BY Me A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT orrice VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Charles s; Davis, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application November 1, 1944, Serial No. stints,

This invention relates to valve operating mechanism and more particularly to a hydraulic valve actuator for flush valves or the like. It is among the objects of the invention to provide a valve operating mechanism operable by a foot valve which shall be of a design to be readily attached to existing flush valves for water closets. It is a further object of the invention to utilize the hydrostatic pressure of the water supply line for actuating the valve operating mechanism in a manner to move the flush valve lever by an impulse through a pressure spring.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a flush valve operating mechanism of simple and durable construction which may be inserted in the flush valve and attached thereto by a screw nut.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partially in section, of a flush valve and operating mechanism embodying the principles of this invention, and

Fig. 2 a vertical section partially in elevation taken longitudinally of the valve operating mechanism.

With reference to the several figures of the drawing, the structure therein illustrated comprises a flush valve I of standard construction connected to a water supply line 2 which is mounted on a standard 3 supported on the closet bowl. The valve mechanism is of no significance to the present invention except the operating arm 4 inside of the valve housing which is normally biased to valve closing position and actuated by a plunger 5 of a valve operated mechanism generally designated by the numeral 6 attached to the threaded boss 1 of the valve housin to valve opening position by the sleeve nut 8.

The construction of the valve operator is more clearly shown in Fig. 2 and consists of a sleeve 9 or cylinder having a threaded cap ID at one end, a threaded pipe connection I I and an opening I2 for receiving the plunger 5. A piston I3, having a leather cup packing I4, is mounted. in the cylinder 9 and is supported at one end on a partition member I5. A piston rod I 6 is provided with a head I! to which is attached a coil spring I8 which is secured to a head I9 of the plunger 5. A coil spring 20 is disposed around the piston rod l6 and abuts the partition member I5 at one end and the piston head I3 at the other.

As shown in Fig. 1, a water pipe 2i is connected to the cylinder 9 at one end and to a foot valve 2 Claims. (01. 131-139) 2 a 22 at the other end, valve 22 being connected by pipe line 23 to the water supply connection 2.

The operation of the valve operating mechanism is briefly as follows. The cylinder 9 is mounted on the flush valve by the screw nut 8 as shown in Fig. 1, and the pipe connections 2| and 23 are made with the operating cylinder 9', the foot valve 22 and the water supply 2 as shown. Assuming the position of the plunger and spring as shown in Fig. 2 to be normal, the end of plunger 5 will contact the valve arm 4 as shown in Fig. 1. By depressing foot valve 22 full pressure of the water supply line 2 is delivered to the piston head I 3 which is depressed against the action of coil spring 20. Forward movement of the piston in the direction of coil spring I8 will compress the latter until suflicient force has accumulated to snap the plunger 5 forward to trip valve arm 4. The sudden application of the full force of the water pressure on piston I3 would result in a hammer blow against the valve arm 4 in the absence of the intermediate spring II! which absorbs this blow. I have found that this sudden impulse force on piston I 3 will build up a momentary force in the coil spring I 8 of sufiicient magnitude to move plunger 5 forward against arm 4 to actuate the flush valve without impacting any of the operating parts. Because of this absorption of the water hammer by the spring I8 a smooth and quiet operation results and the operating parts are not subjected to destructive forces or rapid wear.

Obvious changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim: V

1. An operating mechanism for a flush valve having an operating arm, a cylinder mounted to the casing of the valve, a plunger extending from one end of said cylinder engaging the operating arm of said valve, a piston in said cylinder having a coil spring connection with said plunger and normally biased by a coil spring to the retracted position of the plunger, and fluid pressure means connected to the water supply of said flush valve and to said operating cylinder on one side of said piston and valve means controlling the application of said fluid pressure to said piston.

2. A valve operator for attachment to the housing of a flush valve havin an operating arm, a cylindrical sleeve adapted to be inserted through an opening in the valve housing and attached thereto by a threaded nut engaging a shoulder on said sleeve, a piston in said sleeve having a piston rod extending through an inner support of the sleeve having a coil spring abutting said support and the piston head, a plunger movable in an opening of a wall of said sleeve engaging the operating arm of said flush valve, a coil spring connecting said plunger and the end of the piston rod, one end of said sleeve constituting a pressure chamber, a connection from said chamber to a foot valve and a connection from said foot vaive to the water supply of said flush valve, said piston being operable axially in said sleeve by application of the pressure fluid to apply a compression impulse to the plunger connected spring to actuate said plunger in its flush valve operating movement. 7

CHARLES S. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENT Name Date Smith July 3, 1900 Dake Oct. 16, 1906 Murphy Mar. 30, 1909 Phillips Dec. 26, 1916 Hurst Nov. 7, 1922 Hagey Jan. 26, 1926 Hope Mar. 11, 1930 Grabler Sept. 1, 1931 Esterly July 19, 1932 Cox Oct. 18, 1932 Block May 30, 1933 Shanley July 13, 1937 Dreyer Oct. 24, 1939 Lingold Jan. 12, 1 943 Rockwell Oct. 12, 1943 Beekley Apr. 17, 1945 Nelson Nov. 13. 1945 

